Foldable swing or couch.



23 f 55 Elma/wt m i/tvwooao "IE I Q.

S. U. JOHNSON.

FOLDABLE SWING 0R COUCH. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3. 1915.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

'THIZ COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0. WASHINGTON, D. C.

S. U. JOHNSON.

FOLDABLE SWING 0R COUCH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3. 1915.

Llfimfifiw, Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1IE 5 m mfmi $351... 5

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH .C0.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

SIDNEY U. JOHNSON, or CLINTON, INDIANA.

FOLDABLE swine on COUCH.

Application filed February 3, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY U. JorINsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clinton, in the county of Vermilion and State of'Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foldable Swings or Couches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in lawn swings and hammock couches and more particularly to collapsible or folding articles of this character.

The object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed and efficient foldable supporting frame for swinging seats or couches which when collapsed will occupy a comparatively small space and which may be quickly folded and when folded the couch will be housed therein.

Another object is to provide improved means for suspending a seat or couch in this supporting frame so constructed and connected that the movements of the body of the user will operate to swing the couch or seat.

With these and other objects in view, the

, invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a side elevation .of a swinging couch constructed in accordance with this invention with thecouch shown in normal position in full lines and with one end swung upwardly in dotted lines; F 1g. 2 is an end elevation thereof: Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing the couch in folded position; Fig. 4 is a rear elevation thereof; Fig. 5 is an edge view of the couch in folded position; Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a detail sec tional view showing the connection of one of the suspending elements to the frame.

In the embodiment illustrated two connected side members 1 and 2 are shown each beingsubstantially X-shaped when in open position and each composed of two bars 3 and 4: of wood, iron or other suitable material which are pivotally connected at points beyond their center as shown at 5 to adapt them to be spread or opened a suitable dis- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. a, rare.

Serial No; 5,901.

tance to form a suitable supporting base at their lower ends. As shown the bars 3 are arranged on the inside of the bars 4 and their forwardly projecting upper ends are connected by crossed braces 6 and 7 which are pivotally connected at their ends to the edges of the front ends of said bars 3 as is shown clearly in Fig. 3. The rearwardly pro ecting ends of the bars 4 are similarly connected by cross braces 8 and 9 which are pivotally connected at their ends to the rear tend forwardly when the frame is in open operative position are connected by a fleXible element 10 which is designed to limit the lateral opening movement of these bars and prevent the frame from collapsing, the pivotal connection of the bars permitting these lower ends to be spread laterally apart a distance greater than the upper ends thereof thereby affording a reliable supporting base for the swing.

As shown a couch 11 is mounted in the frame and is suspended from the upper ends of the bars 3 and 4c of the side members 1 and 2 by flexible elements 12 and 13 which are here shown in the form of chains, the chain 12 being connected at its opposite ends to one side of the couch frame at its opposite ends and the intermediate portion thereof passing through apertures 14- formed edgewis-e through the upper ends of the bars 3 and 4 of the side member 1. The chain 13 is similarly connected with the opposite side the couch in thedesired position, which is 7 usually horizontal, suitable fastening elements 15 are passed transversely through the upper ends of the bars 3 and a and through one of the links of the chain mounted therein so that said chains will be reliably held in engagement with the upper ends rest or back support 16 by of these bars and the couch supported thereby, thus prevented from shifting its position. These elements 15 are to be made removable so that the position of the couch may be adjusted to suit the user and be disposed either in tilted or horizontal position as desired.

A head rest or back support 16 is pivotally mounted near one end of the couch on the upper face thereof and is here shown in :the form of a substantially U-shaped frame 17 having the freeends of its legs turned inwardly to form attaching hooks 18 whichare engaged with eyes 19 project ing upwardly from the side bars of the couch so that said head rest or back support may be removed when desired. Stretched over this U-shaped frame is a canvas or other suitable covering.

Flexibleelements 20 and 21 here shown in the form of chains are connected at one endto the opposite sides of the back support 16 near its free end and these chains are provided at their free ends with hooks 22 which are adapted to be adjustably connected with the links of the chains 12 and 13 which suspend and support the head portion of the couch as shown in Fig. 1. Se cured to opposite sides of the couch near the foot end thereof are other flexible elements here shown in the form of cords 23 .which are designed for holding the couch after more fully described.

In the use of this apparatus when the parts are disposed as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the chains 12 and 13 at the head end of the couch support the weight of the user but when pressure is exerted on the head forcing the body back thereagainst the chains 20 and 21 bein position when folded as will be hereincome the supporting elementsas shown in dotted lines in Fig. l and when in this position the foot end of the couch will be moved outwardly and upwardly such as occurs when the swinging motion is imparted to the couch and which is'produced by the movement of the body of the user on the back support 16, said user moving himself back and forth to exert more or less pressure on said back support as may be desired according to the swinging motion which he wvishes to impart to the couch.

While the apparatus has been described in connectlon with a swinging couch it 1s obvious that it may be. used to support a seat equally well and hence it is not desired to limit the invention to a swinging couch.

When itis desired to fold the swing for storage, transportation or other purposes the head rest or back support 16 is disengaged from the chains 12 and 13 by unhooking the hooks 22 and said head rest is then folded upwardly flat against the outer face of the couch as shown n Fig. 3 so that when the side members are folded the connecting brace bars 6 and 7 will be on the outside of said head rest and thus securely hold it flat against the couch and prevent it from swinging outwardly. \Vhile this head rest is so shown it is obvious that if desired it may be swung downwardly instead of upwardly and may be held against outward swinging by engaging the hooks 2 of the chains 20 and 21 with links of the chains 12 and 13 but it is immaterial as far as the invention is concerned whether it be swung up or down when in collapsed position. When so folded the couch will be disposed between the brace bars 6 and 7 and 8 and 9 and held against lateral move ment by said bars, the chains which connect the foot end of the couch serving to support said couch against longitudinal movement. To hold the bars 3 and 1 against opening when so folded the cords 23 are passed around said folded bars 3 and 4 which are arranged parallel with each other and with the couch and said cords tied to hold these parts in this position and the apparatus is then ready for storing or shipping as may be desired.

claim as my invention 1. A folding swing comprising a pair of spaced side members each composed of cross bars pivotally connected at their points of intersection, brace bars connecting the upper ends of the opposite bars of said side members and pivotally connected therewith to facilitate a lateral opening movement thereof, means for limiting the separation of the lower ends of said side members, a supporting member, flexible elements connecting said supporting member with the upper ends of said side members, one of the bars of said side members being foldable into parallel relation with the other bar, said supporting member being foldable between said folded side members, one end of the former being disposed between said brace bars, and means for holding said side members and said supporting member in folded position.

2. A folding swing comprising a pair of spaced side members each composed of inner and outer side bars pivotally connected intermediate their ends, the upper ends of the inner bars extending in one direction and those of the outer bars in the other direction, two pairs of crossed brace bars pivotally connected at their ends'with the outer edges of the inner and outer side bars at points above their pivotal connection to facilitate a lateral opening movement of said side members, a flexible element connecting the lower ends of the outer side bars for limiting the separation of the lower ends of said side end of the side 10 brace bars, and means for retaining said side bars and said supporting members in folded position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

SIDNEY U. JOHNSON.

Witnesses J. A. GRIEsBAUER, C. E. HUNT.

iiopies or this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Wamhinmon, D. G. 

